Ye shall know my breach of promise— My vengeance, Waterland. There is nothing for of promise in the original. Dr. Waterland follows many of the ancient versions. Houbigant renders it, and ye shall know that I have broken my covenant with you: the Hebrew, says he, is literally, my abrogation of the covenant תנואתי את eth tenuati; for God addresses the rebels, who now had no part in the covenant, which, however, was afterwards established with their children and posterity; see Numbers 14:30-31. The original word occurs only here and in Job 33:10. Upon which the very learned Schultens observes, that it is derived from the Hebrew נא na, and the Arabic noua, which signifies crude, half done, indigested, ulcerated; and hence, understanding it in a moral sense, we may render it, you shall perceive how I am incensed against you. Dr. Waterland observes, under our present uncertainties, respecting the original word, and while we want other light, I know no better rule to go by than the LXX, which is the most ancient version, and Saint Jerome, who had seen the other ancient Greek versions. Now the LXX have in this place τον θυμον της οργης μου my anger, or, more literally, the fury of my wrath; and in Job 33:10 they have μεμψιν complaint, accusation. Jerome in the first passage has ultionem meam; and in the other querelas. Le Clerc, having considered every way, and finding an Arabic root which seemed to favour such construction as the LXX and Vulgate give, acquiesces at length in this rendering, ye shall know my vengeance, being at least as good and as probable as any; see Scripture vindicated, part 2: p. 30.
REFLECTIONS.—Fixed is the fatal decree; judgment must proceed, but mingled with mercy. They shall not be consumed in an instant, as they deserved; yet shall they never possess the land that they have despised.
1. God's glory shall be manifested in pardoning and sparing them at Moses's intercession; yet in such a way, as that his displeasure shall appear in the most awful colours. Note; (1.) Great is the effect of fervent prayer. (2.) God will take care, even in his mercy to the sinner, to shew his indignation against sin.
2. The sentence of exclusion from Canaan goes forth against them. They wish it, and the wish is granted: during forty years they are, by degrees, to be consumed in their wanderings; a punishment less than their iniquities deserved, after having tempted, provoked God, and murmured so repeatedly, and this in the face of the daily miracles wrought for them. Note; (1.) God records our provocations, and he will visit us for them. (2.) Repeated backsliding is very aggravated guilt.
3. God commands them to retire; they would, and they shall. The Amalekites they feared are ready to fall on them; and now, as God will not help them, they are indeed an unequal match. Unbelieving fears are justly punished by the infliction of the dreaded evil.
4. Forty years (according to the days of their searching the land) they must bear their iniquities in the wilderness, where every hardship they endured should remind them of the cause of it, and humble them under the reflection of their provocations which occasioned these visitations. Note; (1.) It is a great mercy that we have space given us for repentance; and we ought to count as mercies those sufferings which lead us thereunto. (2.) The afflictions of others for sin should be a warning to us to avoid their transgressions, that we may not share in their plagues.
5. Mercy is promised to Caleb and Joshua. They were men of another spirit; and as they proved their fidelity by fully following the Lord, he will reward them with singular favour, by bringing them into the land. Note; (1.) God's people are men of a different spirit from the world around them, and from what themselves were in their unconverted state. 2. Their hearts fully cleave to the Lord; they have no allowed guile, and seek in simplicity to know and obey God's will. (3.) These, however reviled and rejected of men, shall find that God will amply recompence them, by an inheritance incorruptible, reserved for them in heaven.
6. The children, who are young, and not supposed to join in their parents' sin, are spared; they shall see the promise fulfilled; and, though their unbelieving fathers said they would be a prey, themselves shall seize the prey, and spoil these dreaded enemies. Note; If the children bear the iniquity of their fathers, it is only because they follow their sins; if, warned by their punishment, they avoid their evil ways, mercy shall compass them about on every side.